This page contains content from the 2008–09 academic year. For current information, visit the Harvard Extension School website at www.extension.harvard.edu.
How to Apply
If you have taken or are currently enrolled in the courses for admission and meet the other criteria, you may submit the following to the program office:
- A completed online application form
- The application essays
- A nonrefundable $75 application fee
- Official transcripts
Start the Online Application Early
All you need to submit the online application are the names of the schools that you have attended and the dates of attendance. During the application periods, you can log in to access the online application form and receive:
- The essay questions
- Instructions about submitting supplementary materials
Application Dates
Students are admitted three times a year, according to the term in which they anticipate completing the courses required for admission:
| If you will complete your prerequisite courses | Submit your application between | Expect a decision after |
|---|---|---|
| in the fall | Dec. 15–Jan. 15 | March 1 |
| in the spring | April 15–May 15 | July 1 |
| in the summer (Harvard Summer School) | Aug. 1–Sept. 1 | Oct. 1 |
Apply as early as you are eligible, particularly if you intend to seek an I-20 or financial aid. If you do not apply in the term that you anticipate completing the prerequisite courses, you run the risk of losing degree credit for completed coursework, as admission criteria and degree requirements are subject to change. There is an additional $125 fee for applicants who have completed more than four courses when applying.
International Applicants
- If you are admitted by March 1, you are eligible for an I-20 for full-time study for the following summer term.
- If you are admitted by July 1, you are eligible for an I-20 for full-time study for the following fall term.
- If you are admitted by October 1, you are eligible for an I-20 for full-time study for the following spring term.
See guidelines on applying for the I-20.
Demonstrating English Proficiency
If your native language is not English and you do not have a four-year bachelor’s degree from a school with English-language instruction, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and earn at least one of the following scores:
- 250 on the computer-based test and 5 on the essay
- 600 on the paper-based test and 5 on the Test of Written English
- 100 on the Internet-based test
Your official score reports should be sent from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the program office. The Harvard Extension School TOEFL institution code is 3458 and the department code is 02.
If you have a four-year bachelor’s degree from a school with English-language instruction you must still submit TOEFL scores if
- You did not earn all your degree credits at that school.
- The school is not in a country in which English-language instruction is standard.
This requirement for admission to programs is different from the proficiency requirement for registration in Extension School or Summer School courses. If you meet the requirement for courses, you must still meet this requirement for admission to a program.
Also see Acceptable Foreign Degrees.